Canadian, Caribbean Leaders Met to Advance Medical Tourism for North Americans

Nearly 100 Canadian and Caribbean government, healthcare and business leaders met last week to discuss how Caribbean medical tourism can be developed to serve North Americans’ healthcare and vacation needs. Held in Bridgetown, Barbados, the “Caribbean Health & Wellness Tourism” meeting was sponsored by Caribbean Export and Trade Facilitation Office Canada.

With North American health costs rising, the governments of Canada and several Caribbean nations are exploring how Caribbean medical tourism can be a smart solution for providing access to high quality and affordable health care. Health costs in the Caribbean are about 50 to 80 percent less than in Canada and the U.S., medical experts say.

The Trade Facilitation Office Canada (TFO Canada) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) hosted a major international meeting, “Caribbean Health & Wellness Tourism” in Bridgetown, Barbados on April 1-2.

Attracting leaders from Canada and 10 Caribbean nations, the meeting explored ways that these countries can work together to develop Caribbean health and wellness services for use by North American consumers.

Barbados Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Richard Sealy, told the audience of about 100 people that his island nation needs to exploit the US$40 billion health and wellness industry.

Since 2007, Choice Medical Services has been providing safe, high quality and affordable medical tourism services to patients from North America and worldwide. Today, the company offers medical care and vacation options in Canada, Costa Rica and Cuba.